Hollywood's Buying Specs Again—Here's What That Means for Your Career

For years, it felt like selling an original screenplay in Hollywood was about as likely as spotting a unicorn on Sunset Boulevard.

We all heard the narrative: "Originals are dead." "It's all sequels and superheroes." "You need a star attached or forget it."

Well, get ready to rewrite that story.

The spec screenplay sale is officially back—and 2025 is shaping up to be a gold rush for writers with fresh ideas.

This summer alone, major studios and streamers bought 23 feature original spec scripts and pitches. The momentum peaked in August with nine sales in a single month—the greatest monthly volume since 2017.

So what changed? And more importantly—how do you capitalize on it?

The Streaming Effect: Out with the Capes, In with the Concept

The industry is adapting to a new reality, and that's fantastic news for screenwriters.

The biggest factor? The endless appetite of streaming platforms for original content. When you have thousands of titles a click away, brand recognition alone won't cut it anymore.

The Fatigue Factor: Audiences are officially tired. Superhero fatigue is real. The endless cycle of remakes, reboots, and sequels is no longer a guaranteed win. Warner Bros. proved it with a string of original hits—audiences are hungry for new stories that genuinely excite them.

Concept is King: The shift to home viewing means your script must practically sell itself on a title or thumbnail. This is the era of the "clickable pitch." If you can't describe your idea in one splashy sentence, it aint sellable.

Think: The Sixth Sense. The Matrix. Basic Instinct.

Logline-driven, high-concept ideas. That's what Hollywood's buying right now.

What's Actually Selling? The New Hot List

While you should always write what inspires you, it helps to know

which genres are driving the market:

Action and Thrillers Dominate: High-concept action and thriller scripts are the biggest sellers.

They play well internationally, and their concepts translate easily across languages. (Example: Alignment, the AI thriller that sold for a reported $1.25 million against $3 million with big name stars like Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon showing interest.)

The Rom-Com Comeback: Rom-coms and comedies are making noise again, especially at streamers like Netflix. But they still need a high-concept hook to stand out.

Horror's Side-Step: Horror has cooled slightly—even indie companies are leaning toward thrillers for broader appeal. That said, a fresh, character-driven, high-concept horror idea will always find a buyer.

The Secret Weapon: Straight Spec Sales

Here's the most fascinating shift: the move away from packaged deals.

For years, you needed a star or director attached before a studio would even glance at your script. Not anymore.

Studios and streamers are now favoring straight spec sales—buying the script without any talent attached. This gives them control to do their own "internal packaging," selecting the director and actors they think best fit the project.

Some worried this would only lead to lowball offers. But recent sales like Test Drive, Alignment, and Love of Your Life (sold for around $2 million) prove otherwise—many are fetching mid- to high-six figures, even seven figures.

Your ideas are a commodity again.

It's no longer just about who's attached. It's about the script itself.

Your Playbook: Adapt and Empower

This surge is a powerful signal: the industry needs you.

Here's how to lean into the opportunity:

1. Hone the Concept

Your idea is your greatest asset. Can you describe your story in one line that makes a producer instantly see the movie? If not, keep polishing.

2. Focus on Characters and Relationships

No matter how "loud" the concept (like Three Hitmen and a Baby), the script's core is the characters and their relationships. That's what locks down a sale and keeps audiences engaged.

3. Stretch Your Genre Muscles

If you haven't found success, don't be afraid to try action or thriller. Your unique voice could be the X factor that makes a familiar formula feel fresh.

The Bottom Line?

The return of the spec sale isn't a passing trend. 

It's a market correction that's going to reward creativity—and ultimately lead to better, more original movies.

The industry is waiting.

Get to writing.